17 Survival Gear Essentials to Prepare for Emergency Situations

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No matter who you are or where you live, emergencies happen, and it's important to be prepared for survival. Some like to stock up for the next hurricane, winter storm, or volcano eruption. Other's are preparing for a pandemic to wipe the world clean. And some of us The Walking Dead enthusiasts fantasize about the zombie apocalypse or the day when robots take over the world. Regardless of what you are waiting for, it's important to keep this survival gear on hand, so you are prepared to brave an emergency (or the end of the world).

When the world is ending and the power grids go down, your cell phone will be obsolete. Give one of these to your best friend across town, or one to your partner in case you get separated. Just make sure the rendezvous point hasn't been compromised.

When zombies are hot on your tail, you'll want to be prepared to head for the hills. Or if you just want to buy the whole kit and caboodle in one organized package, this is the one. This backpack has a first-aid kit, two light sticks, two ponchos, two emergency blankets, a whistle, and enough food and water for two people for three days. After that, it's every man for himself.

This update to everyone's favorite multi-tool has all the tools you would expect, such as a combo knife, two pliers, wire cutters, screwdrivers, a saw, and hammer. But it's been updated to include a knife sharpener, fire-starting rod, and emergency whistle. Take it backpacking with you or toss it in your survival kit, and you'll never be unprepared.

Wear this bracelet and you'll never be caught unprepared. Unravel it into a 12-foot paracord that can hold more than 550 pounds, or use the inner strands for fishing line, fire tinder, or sewing string. This bracelet also has a mini compass, flint, and whistle.

Your body can't survive without water, but carrying around enough bottled H20 for emergency situations is just plain silly. The Lifestraw is small enough to fit in your pocket, and can be used to drink directly from a stream. It will remove over 99%of bacteria, making contaminated water safe to drink.

Survival eating doesn't have to be based on preserved and ready-to-eat foods. This set packs entirely into the 2-liter cooking pot, so it's a breeze to carry and takes up hardly any space. It includes MSR's PocketRocket stove, as well as two bowls, two mugs, and two folding sporks, making it easy to cook up your fresh catch and get to feasting.

If your car breaks down, leaving you stranded on a backroad — or your heat goes out in a winter storm — you'll need something to keep warm. This emergency shelter reflects up to 90% of your body heat back to you, and the orange color makes you easier to spot in a search-and-rescue situation.

Your one-stop shop for survival, this kit holds 10 items in a lightweight, indestructible, waterproof case. To name a few, this kit includes fire starters, a strong nylon cord, military steel wire, a sewing and fishing kit, a compass, and a lock-blade knife.

Sure, a paracord bracelet is great for unexpected, dire situations. But this is a necessity for any bug-out bag. This 103-foot rope is rated to handle over 600 pounds, so it's a necessity for hanging your pack, creating a pulley system, furnishing a shelter, and so much more.

UCO packed the essentials for fire, cooking, and shelter into this affordable, lightweight kit. Included is a thermal reflective shelter to keep you warm and protect you from the elements, an emergency cooking stove with three fuel tablets, and 15 stormproof matches that will light even after being submersed in water.

If you're stuck in the wild for more than a few days and you're out of food, have wet clothes, or are enduring cold nights, a hatchet will make chopping firewood 10 times easier than breaking it with your feet. It might be heavy, but you will never regret packing this.

The U.S. military eats these meals in the field because they pack a whopping 1,250 calories per meal (on average), so there's enough calories for an entire day, if times are tough. Take them backpacking to refuel after a long day, or stock up for your emergency survival kit.

When you've successfully escaped the first round of zombies (or your car breaks down), but night begins to fall, these tactical, military-grade flashlights will save you. Use it in spotlight mode to signal someone up to 600 feet away, or use floodlight mode for a broad beam to illuminate your surroundings.

When the thought of living without your electronics actually sounds scarier than death, itself, toss this solar charger in your survival pack. It's waterproof, shockproof, and has two USB ports. Whether your phone needs more juice or you want to charge your GoPro to film the mayhem that's ensuing, this will do the trick.

Shake these hand warmers up and they will add an extra boost of heat inside your gloves! They are super easy to use, and the plastic case protects them from water, so they will survive a hurricane or crazy winter storm.

There's nothing worse than a wet lighter or set of matches that won't spark fire. And duct tape is that essential you can't go without, but carrying a full roll is cumbersome. UCO wrapped 3 feet of strong utility tape around a stormproof, triple-jet butane liter, and attached a carabiner, for a go-anywhere survival tool you'll be proud to carry.

If you're in a car accident and you're trapped inside the vehicle, use the blunt edge of this tool to bust the glass. Then use the sharp edge to cut your seatbealt so you can break free.

Andrew BettlachAndrew has been contributing to the outdoors and fitness content on BestProducts.com for over two years; he's a nature lover, peak-bagger, skier, and general good-time haver who lives in Colorado, knows where all the fresh snow is, and what gear you should be wearing for staying warm or looking fresh.